Analysis on the impact of Thar tragedy effecting the progress of coal reserves demanded

ISLAMABAD- The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) today demanded a detailed study on the impact of recent Thar tragedy on the development of coal reserves worth 25 trillion dollars.

Situation in Thar should be watched closely and kept normal for smooth flow of the projects that have potential to save Pakistan, it said.

Thar coal can change the fate of Pakistan if utilized in a proper way. It can save oil import bill, reduce unemployment and help strengthen economy, rupee and forex stocks, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

He said that PEW in 2008 pointed out that 185 billion tonnes of coal worth 25 trillion dollars can not only cater for electricity requirements of whole country for centuries but also save billions dollars in staggering oil import bill.

Many multinational companies had not only carried out surveys and fusibilities of this project, but also offered 100 percent investment during that last decade, but the petroleum barons always discouraged them in a very systematic way.

He repeated demand for a probe into the matter as some elements deprived people of Pakistan from cheap source of energy for too long in their own interest.

A recent study says that the Thar coal deposits are equal to the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia and Iran and it can provide energy to the whole country for 2000 years.

There is a need to urgently utilize this gift of God spread over more than 9,000 km for the welfare of masses and not for others, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal. NNI